Speech and language is vital for a child’s everyday life. When a child has to struggle with expressing themselves, it often leads to social and emotional obstacles. Communication is a very important developmental activity that place in early childhood. It is also the time when their initial understanding of their surroundings takes place.
Social and emotional development
A child that has difficulty developing speech and language skills early in life, it often hinders their ability to properly communicate or confidently express themselves and their observations around them.
Younger children who don’t have well developed speech and language skills, have observations, ideas, and feelings in their mind, but can be frustrated because they are unable to communicate or make themselves understood. Whether it is unclear speech patterns, stuttering, or poor annunciation.
This often leads to the child being withdrawn from friends and peers, minimizing verbal interactions, and avoiding situations where they have to speak out loud.
When a child has difficulty expressing themselves, it can lead to emotional outbursts, low frustration tolerance, and excessive shyness.
Academic development
Speech and language development is vital for academic success. A child just starting out in school, socializes with other children their own age, and observe their surroundings. They notice how other children speak and express themselves, it could be more articulate and easier to understand.
This realization can have a negative impact, leading to lower confidence, overly frustrated, and potentially lower class performance. It can also lead to isolation due to avoiding uncomfortable situations, being teased by peers, and even rejection.
Think about how your child communicates – listens, speaks, non-verbal communications – and the role it plays in their everyday activities and relationship with others. For example:
Follow age appropriate multiple step instructions. Put your toys away, feed the dog, and then brush your teeth.
Participating in age appropriate conversations
Displaying age appropriate writing and reading. A 6 year old writing their own name or an 8 year old reading to themselves.
Answering age appropriate questions with clarity
Watch your child interact in peer related activities and those with family. These types of interactions can give insight to communication issues.
Do they use appropriate verbal communications when interacting with peers, such as using spoken words to share opinions and ideas.
Participating in group activities with children of similar age and attention level, not wandering off by himself.
Communication issues can arise for a number of reasons. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s milestones, it is important to speak with a speech therapist.
